Cigar vending machine



Aug. 25, 1931. J. w'. BEESON 1,820,341

CIGAR VENDING MACHINE Filed Dec. 29, 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Irwin/Essa?IN VEN'zfgi fsm MMM A T T RN E Y.

Aug. 25, 1931. J. w. BEESON 1,320,341

CIGAR VENDING MACHINE Filed Dec. 29, 1928 4 Sheets-S heet 2 WWI/V556 Rmaf'ssow A RNEY.

Aug. 25, 1931. J. w. BEESON 1,820,341

CIGAR VENDING MACHINE Filed Dec. 29, 1928 4 4 Sheets-Sheet s l '1 n 11-l- IIIIII/I/l/ ATTORNEYS.

Patented Aug. 1931 tqmisw Louis, 111mm, cnssreitonjrononngs; oAnsoiq, 1V 01? BnLLnwLLa IL moIs' Q I I ems vmmeemme; I

This invention iappert ains )to, :coin icontTOllQHLBItlClGl dispensing:machines and more particularly to :a cigar vending machine,

-whi'eh.-is*- so constructed asito afford =a eleiar ,5 vision :of ithepackage'i or! container 'Ofitl'lfl cigars, showing all stamps; brands,caution inetices'andztheilika !O1'16 (if ithe primaryolojec tsgofglthepresent invention .is: to qprovideiia cigar vending Y ma- ;1,0 1 chine;in which the cigars ware ven'dett directly fromr'the originalpackage orcontainenand in such sakmainier as to prevent iclogging of ctheimachine.

Another salientxfeature' of theiinvention is .1 itoeprovidesacoincontrolledccigar vending machine in which ithe 'scoin" z depositedsperaforms the xfunction of. alkeyi-locking thetop aerating:plungerawith aslide delivering: mecheanisni, l w'he reby up'on operationn of the -;matically deliver aisingle L cigar i totheifront oftheimachine. V I 1 I AA furtherrohj ect rfiff'the :invention isatheprovision of ea 9 novel slide tinecliariisln fo'r 'gcig'a-rwvendingmachines including a'slide latez mounted between esuitable :guidermemers, the .fpliate z having 5 means i for receiving .aisingle cigarwhen in :its inorm-al retracted zposition -iand xzhaving 1a gplunger"sli'dably :mounted adjacent 'thereto'twith novel 5 means :forconnecting. ithe iplunger with the: eslide rp'late by the depositing(ii-as coing theplunger and 1 plate -fiforhuing 'means for gripping andholding the coin :in operative v position, I so 5 that "upommove'ment;of therplungenthe slide .1-4 Wision' of novel meanscfor igui'ding Ftheslide plate during its 'trav eLand-enovel means ".for cutting offrtheifiow' of cigars "from the :box ror container {during a the forwardmovement iofithe;slidezplate:to;a;cigariejectingposition, A furtherobject .o-fnthezinvention ise the -*l0oking in the direction of the.arrows eillus- :themachine taken eon the. line 55 of Figure 1 directionof the arrows illustrating the slide provisioned novel means'forsupportin'g a ciga'rebox or 1 container: within the gdispenslngirnachine saidv supporting *means being adnstable :within certainlimitsztowreceive 'dif- -fe'rent sizes ofcigarboxes. II A still furtherobject of the inventiongis to provideaacoin controlled cigar vendingfmae "chin-e o'fithe above .char'actenwhich will :be-

durable and efficient 1111- use, one that will he simple :and easy to:manufacture,. and one -Which can 'be placed upon =.the ;market at areasonable cost, and which willbef entirely fooleproofinlits operation.I Y e e WVith: these and other objectsin view, E the iinventionconsistsin the-novel construction, arran gementL-and 'formationaof .parts, as.will ;-be- 'l hereinakfter :more specifically described, claimed, andillustrated-in the accompany- Eing i'drlawings flinwhicli drawings ilEigure 9:1 is a front elevation of the ;com-. rple'texcigar vendingmachine 'constructedIin accordance with my invention;

ll ligurefizis a horizontal sectionjthroughithe 4sameitakenionitheiline' 2- 2 Lof fFigure il lookinglin thefdirectionofithelarrows; I y Y #Fignrei3' is a side elevation ot theeomplete:cigarivending machine lFigure' l is a vertical section through'athe Imachine taken on the-line- 4--4: of Figure" 1 atrat ing the, position.of the slide 5 plate for eceiving a cigar from the original (cigar boxor'containerf" 1 V Figure5is a horizontal section through 4 illustratingthe to'p' or cover plate forithe slidemechanism;-- *lFigure 6 isa-ho'r'izontal section taken on the line 6 6 of 'Fig'nre4 looking in theanId p'lunger mechanism in their normal inoperative positions forreceiving a ci'gar fromthecigarhox and acoin from thelcoinreceivingchute; I e I I Figure 7 isa, fragmentary vertical Se tionthrough the machine :taken ,on the line; 7-?7 of ,zFigure 6 zlooking inthe direction of "the 1 arrows" illustrating the novel slide me'cha-;nism and showing the sameinits-normal .po- 1 sition for receiving acigar from the cigar box;

Figure 8 is a similar view showing the slide mechanism in its forwardposition for permitting the ejecting of a cigar through the deliverychute;

Figure 9 is a detail fragmentary section taken on the line 9-9 of Figure7 looking in the direction of the arrows illustrating the parts inposition for receiving a coin;

Figure 10 is a detail fragmentary vertical section taken on the line1010 of Figure 6 looking in the direction of the arrows showing theslide and plunger mechanisms in position for receiving a coin;

. Figure 11 is a similar section showing the nisms, the same being inpositions for receiving a coin;

Figure 13 is a fragmentary transverse section through the machine in avertical plane taken on the line 1313 of Figure 6 looking in thedirection of the arrows showing the parts in their normal positions forreceiving a coin, and

Figure 14is a detail sectional view showing the friction guide memberfor engaging the slide plate for taking up any lost motion therein. a 4

Referring to the drawings in detail wherein similar reference charactersdesignate corresponding parts throughout the several views, the letter Agenerally indicates my cigar vending machine which comprises a casing Bof any suitable design or form and preferably ornamented or treated topresent a pleasing and attractive appearance.

In the present form of my invention I have shown the casing B includinga bottom section 16 or base and a top display section 17. The bottomsection or base 16 includes a low or flat bottom supporting wall 18,impel-f0- rate side walls 19, and a rear imperforate wall 20. The bottomsupporting wall 18, preferably, but not necessarily, extends beyond therear and side walls ofnthe base or bottom section and this bottom orbase section houses the novel ejecting mechanism and operating mechanismC which will be later described. I

The upper display section 17 extends an appreciable distance above thebase section 16 and preferably includes a front glass panel 21,sideglass panels 22, a top glass panel 23, and a rear glass panel 24. Theseglass panels are held within a suitable framework which includes uprightcorner standards which can be made of angle bars suitably securedthrough the side walls 19 of the base. The upper ends of the cornerstandards 25 can be connected by front and rear strips 26 and 27 and byside strips 28. These strips 26, 27 and 28 can be also angle shaped incross section. The rear glass panel 24 is preferably carried by a hingeddoor structure 29 so that access may be gained into the interior of theupper section 17. It is to be noted by referring to Figure 4 of thedrawings that the upper section communicates with the lower section 16and that the front wall or panel 21 extends in back of the front portionof the base or bottom section and the portions of the base which extendbeyond the vertical face of the upper section can be'provided with a removable cover plate 30 formed of sheet metal or the like. This frontcover plate 30 includes a depending front wall section 31 and therearwardly extending top wall section 32. Suitable fastening elements 33can be utilized for connecting thecover portion with the side walls.The'depending front wall section 31 is provided with a longitudinallyextending slot 34 adjacent to one side thereof which receives thecigardelivery chute 35. The front portion of the cover at the top edgeof the slot can be bent inwardly as at 36 to provide a suitable guard toprevent the insertion of a hand into the deliverychute.

The upper section l7'is adapted to receive an entire box of cigars shownin .dotted lines in Figures 1, 3 and 4 and indicated by the referencecharacter D. The casing is of such a widthas to permit thecover of thebox to be swung to an open position so that the exposed cigars can beseen as wellas the entire box including both sides of the cover, wherebyall ofthe Government stamps, display notices and the like can bereadilyseen by purchasers operating the machine.

Referrmg tov the cigar e ecting mechanism and, the operatingparts of themachine C, the same includes a metal base plate 38 which is bolted orotherwise secured to a pair of spaced transversely extending supportingcleats 39 which are in turn secured to thebottom supportlng wall 18 ofthe base portion 16 of. the

casing 13. The metalbase plate 38 is provided adjacent to onelongitudinal edge there- .of with an upstanding guide flange 40 for apurpose which will be hereinafter more fully described. Secured tothe-bottomplate 38 in spaced relation thereto is a top plate 41,suitable bolts 42 and spacing elements 42 being employed for holding theplates in proper spaced rigid position. The top plate 41 is providedadjacent to its rear end with a cigar receiving slot 43, while thebottom or base plate 38 intermediate its ends and forwardly of the slot43vis-provided with a longitudinally extending cigar ejecting slot 44.It is to be noted that the slots 43 and 44 are not in registration atanytimei,

together by spaced intermediatestrips 48 and 49 which define a pocketbetween the same for receiving a cigar from the box of cigars D, itbeing understood thatthe lower end of the box of cigars is torn oft andthe box rested upon the top plate 41 over the slot 43 therein. The sideplates 46 i and 47 are further connected by a flat plate 50 arranged ina vertical plane which acts'as a closure for the slot 43 during theejection of a cigar from the machine, as will be-later described. Theforward end of the closure plate 50 isconnected with the rear strip 49at itstop edge. j I

whichsacts in the nature; ofa camfor 'liftlng i In order to effectivelyguide the slide plate or cigar ejecting member during its movement, thebottom or base plate 38 has secured to its top face directly below theslot 43 the topplate 41, a guide strip 51 whichterminates short of theopposite side edges ofthe plate. and the spaced strips 48 and 49 havetheirv lower edges notched as at 52, whereby the side walls ofthenotches will engage the ends of the guide strip. Normally the slideplate cigar vending mechanism is in the position shown in Figure 7 ofthe drawings whereby the plates 48 and'49. will be at opposite sides. ofthe slot 43 to permit dropping of a cigar on the guide strip, 51 andinto the pocket defined by said strips or plates 48 and 49.

the same. The side plate or strip 47 of the slide mechanism is providedat its forward Upon forward movement of the slide plate or ejectingmechanism, the cigar will be moved forwardly with said pocket and thestrips 48 and 49 will lie on opposite sides of the slot 44 in the bottomor base plate 38 i allowing the cigar to drop through the slot 44 andinto the delivery chute'35 provided for that purpose. The side plate 46of the de livery slide engages the inner face of the flange 40 and thisflange forms a guide for end with a laterally extending flange 53 therear edge of which defines a coin engagingv tooth 54 as will be laterdescribed. A right angularly extending lip 55 is also carried by therearend of the plate 47, the extreme lower corner of which is notched asat .56 for a purpose which will also be described.

Operating in conjunction with the slide plate-or ejecting mechanism isthe operating plunger, which includes a plunger rod 57 which extendsthrough a suitable opening 58 in the front wall 31. The rear end of theplunger rod is received in the guide notch 56 and within a guide openingformed in the upstanding lip 59 carriedby the bottom or base plate 38.This plate adjacent to the plunger rodis provided with a guide rib 60-therefor, for guiding the rod during its slid ing movement and the rod57 has secured thereto a coin lock plate 61 which is arranged .;1ip162;.at its; reanend fonengaging; saidestrip or l plate 47. 1 The inner'-.face ofithe coin look iplate gatiits upper] edge and intermediate its;:ends, :is provided with a laterally extending zflange 63 whichaengagesthe outerefaceofthe strip47 to act as a guide for the lOCk)pl &t8

"sand-to: alsoaactas asclosure 'fora the; register ng coinslots 6,4aand6 5:formedrespectively in the \cover :plate .32 aandw the :top :plate'41 of :the

ejecting mechanism,-.when;theplungerris in sitsforward:operativepositionfor ejectinga. I

'f-BO acigar; Thepinner face :of thecoinzlock plate @is .alsozprovidedwith. a coin: trip lug 66 which is iofa substantiallyarcuateconfiguration .a coin-toward thetooth 54-of the flange 53.

iformed in i the ;A;longitudinallyextending guide slot-"67 is v$85 coin.lock .plate in :rear of z the,

:coin'tri-p 6,6 *and rece'ivesa-cylindrical guide. j

: engaging the plungerrod 57. Normally the I plunger rod.- extends intothe casing with its {manipulating headi 57 adjacent to the cover aplate:and therlug 62 onthecoinzlockplate in 'engagementiwith the stop andguide lug 55 on E1 the slide=platet35. Inthisposition the coin strip 66and opposite sides o f the coin slots 64 and65=so that when? a. coin isinserted:throughjthe said 1 slots zthe coin will "fall betweenfthe saidcoin trip 66 and tootha54 and rest on the bottomor aba'se plate "betweenthe coinilock plate 61 and lugonbossz68sformed on the side strip 47. IA. suitable bolt 69 extends gthroughithe'. bossg68: .and sup'portsat itsouter/end a:roller:70 :forf

coin engaging tooth'54 lie on p the side strip 47 of the slideplatemechanism chine a nd'iu'pon forward :movement of the apluhger rodof the operatingmeans;the coin 1tripi66, awillsame,into'contactwithithe"tooth-'54 thus lockingithe'coi'n lock plateand th'e slide plate 45 Q After a'coinhas beeninserted inthe -ma- 1 05 i.engage the coin and 'force the itogether as a single unit and uponcontinued- :plate. :45 will he moved forwar'dly,'-conseoutward =movementof the plunger 1 the slide i quentlyr carrying a cigar: therewithandover the SlOlLAliWhl'B llll'G same will jfall into the 3 -chute.35 asheretobe'for e: described. 'U'pon re- :leaseofithe plunger,thecoinwill'be released aandithe same will drop :through A a coin slot 171:formed ;in the bottom plate for that purpose, the coin having beenmoved forwardly .over' -said slotby the coin 'loc'k plate andslide'plate me'chanism 45/ The bottom plate 38 carries a depending andrearwardly extending coin chute 72 which communicates with the coin slot71 and carries the coin rearwardly and into the coin receptacle '73 1The;

position either manually or by spring means plunger can now be returnedto its normal and the lug62engagi1ig the lug 55 willreturn the slideplate to'its normal position until the same is stopped by the combinedstop and guide plate 59.

To take care of any lost motion in the plate during its travel and tonormally hold the strip 46 of the slide plate 45 in engagement with theflange 40, I provide a spring pressed ball bearing member 75 which iscarried by a suitable housing 76 supported by the bottom plate 38.

Any preferred means can be provided for supporting the box of cigarsWithin the display portion 17 of the casing, but I prefer to provide apair of supporting arms 77 which can be connected by means of bolts 78to the rear ends of the supporting strips or cleats 39, it beingunderstood that the arms 77 are adj ustable on the cleats in angularposition.

The upper terminals of the arms 77 are pro vided with forwardlyextending ears 80 to which can be connected angle iron shaped grips 81for engaging the sides of a box of cigars. These arms 81. can also beswung about to an adjusted position and by adjusting the arms 77 and thegrips 81, different sizes of cigar boxes can be accommodated.

From the foregoing description, it can be seen that I have provided anexceptionally simple cigar vending machine from which cigars are ejectedone at a time from the original cigar box which is arranged whollyWithin the sight of the operator of the machine. In order to facilitatethe removal of the cover plate 30, the opening 58 can be the same sizeas the plunger manipulating head '57, so that this cover plate can beslipped over the same. This enlarged opening can be closed by a hingedplate 82 as shown in the drawings. Changes in detail may be made withoutdeparting from the spirit or the scope of this invention, but what Iclaim as new is:

In a cigar vending machine having a base section formed of opaquematerial and an upper section having front, rear and side transparentpanels, a cigar box holder adapted to hold said'box against said frontpanel extending into the top section including vertically disposed arms,pivoted in the base section and being movable in a vertical plane, saidarms having forwardly projecting arcuate terminals, and gripping jaws,comprising angle strips, normally disposed in a vertical plane adustably carried on pivots by the arcuate terminals of the arms, andmovable in a vertical plane.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

JOSEPH W. BEESON.

